Town News Briefing

December 21, 2000

WINDSOR LOCKS

Resident Protests

Short Polling Hours

WINDSOR LOCKS -- The leader of an effort to overturn a four-year contract approved for principals and other school administrators says he doubts that enough voters will turn out to validate today's referendum.

Daniel Kervick said abbreviated voting hours -- polls that usually open at 8 a.m. will be open only from noon through 8 p.m. -- probably will doom the effort that he and others began with a petition in late November.

A yes vote on the referendum supports killing the four-year contract, which grants annual pay raises of up to 4.27 percent.

``No matter how many people come out, there's no doubt in my mind that it'll be rejected,'' with most voters casting yes votes, Kervick said. ``It's a question of whether we get 1,100 votes.'' Participation by a minimum of 1,075 voters -- 15 percent of the town's registered electorate -- is required for the vote to carry.

Kervick and Joseph Olesky, who circulated the petitions, have printed 800 flyers criticizing the contract and said they are distributing those widely. About 500 were mailed to the homes of voters that Kervick said have been identified as regular participants in local budget referendums.

The contract was approved last month by a unanimous vote of the school board. Members say they sought to raise administrators' pay so the district could attract and keep talented educators. At a town meeting, two board members and several supporters passed an amendment restricting the hours of the referendum.

STAFFORD

Residents Reminded

Of Parking Rules

STAFFORD -- The Stafford Highway Department is reminding residents not to block winter cleaning and plowing crews when parking on the street this season.

When snow or freezing rain is expected or is falling, residents should be especially careful in following all posted parking regulations, the department said.

SOMERS

Transfer Station

Closed On Holidays

SOMERS -- The town's transfer station and recycling center will be closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

The transfer station will be open Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Regular hours will resume after Jan. 2.

EAST HARTFORD

Man Accused

Of Extortion

EAST HARTFORD -- A town man is being held with bail set at $100,000, having been accused of threatening a co-worker with a gun and demanding $80,000 within 12 hours.

Police arrested Tingmao Shan, of 101 Briarwood Lane, after his accuser told the Federal Bureau of Investigation Shan had attempted to extort money from him, according to an affidavit.

The incident took place around 9:40 p.m. Sunday as Shan, who has worked at Char Koon restaurant in Glastonbury for about four years, was being dropped off at his apartment with several other co-workers, the affidavit states.

As the van pulled into the driveway, Shan told a man who owns the house and has worked with Shan to stay in the vehicle because he wanted to talk. Shan returned from the house about five minutes later and said he wanted the man to give him $80,000 by 9:30 a.m. Monday, the affidavit states.

Shan then pulled out a semi-automatic handgun, placed it against the man's right temple and said, ``Do you believe me that I could blow your head apart right now with this gun?'' according to the affidavit.

Shan put down that gun and pulled out a second handgun, placing it on top of the other gun. He showed the man that one of the guns was empty before pulling two or three loose rounds of ammunition out of his pocket.

The man said he didn't have the money now, but Shan insisted that he have it by the morning, the affidavit states.

But by the next day, the man had gone to the FBI and subsequently to the East Hartford police, who arrested Shan at 1 a.m. Tuesday, according to the affidavit.

The man moved his wife and children from the house for their safety, the affidavit states.

Police charged Shan with threatening and criminal attempt at larceny in the first degree. His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 16.

MANCHESTER

Man Arrested Twice

After An Assault

MANCHESTER -- A local man arrested after allegedly hitting his former girlfriend's new boyfriend with a tire iron Tuesday went after the boyfriend again Wednesday, police said.

James R. Ingram was arrested Tuesday, shortly after allegedly attacking the new boyfriend in front of the Foodbag store at 116 Center St., police said. The victim was struck on the hand and required 11 stitches to close the cut.

Ingram was charged with second-degree assault, breach of peace and criminal mischief and released on $25,000 bond.

Shortly after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, police said, Ingram went to the former girlfriend's home on Locust Street, pounded on the door and threatened to kill the girlfriend and the new boyfriend. He then left the area.

Because of the threats, police officers in an unmarked car waited in the neighborhood, and shortly before 8 p.m., Ingram turned up on Locust Street. The officers pulled him over and arrested him.